Tuesday, August 21, 2007

After floods, now dry spell

KOTA BARU: After a rainy spell which saw several southern states experiencing extremely heavy rain, the people must now brace for extreme hot weather and possible drought due to the El-Nino phenomenon.

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Sazmi Miah said the El-Nino was expected to hit Malaysia by end-February and last till July or August.

States with limited water catchment areas have been advised to begin taking precautions to ensure that they had adequate water supply throughout the dry season, Sazmi said after opening a business course at Balai Islam here.

Sazmi said the current warning on heavy rainfall should last another two weeks. Johoreans have already been alerted on the possibility of a third round of floods.

After this, the El-Nino phenomenon would be the biggest worry for the ministry.

Sazmi said the public should drink more fluids and get details on how to cope with the extreme weather conditions through related websites.

He added that it was still too early to gauge which states would bear the brunt of the El-Nino effects but it was best for everyone to heed the warning of extreme heat and drought.

On the current situation, Sazmi urged Kelantanese to continue to be still on guard for floods as the ongoing monsoon would only end in February.

He also said that Kelantan was dicing with nature because of excessive logging activities.